FLORENCE, SC – Despite winning the doubles point and the top two singles matches, Francis Marion University fell to Augusta University 4-3, Monday afternoon (Feb. 26) in non-conference women's tennis action.
 
Francis Marion (2-4) will host Edinboro University on March 6 at 2 p.m. on the Kassab Courts.
 
The Patriots took an early 1-0 with the doubles point.  The Jaguars (5-2) won the No.2 doubles match by a 6-4 decision, but FMU rallied in the other two matches to claim the first point.
 
Graduate student Julie Martincova and senior Julia Bellini Fernandes Pinto were victorious 7-5 at the No.3 position, and senior Gabriel Karatantcheva and junior Kim Venghaus followed with a 6-4 win at the No.1 spot.
 
Augusta quickly won in straight sets at No.3 singles to even the match at 1-1.  FMU sophomore Chelsea Seidewitz won an almost as quick 6-1, 6-2 decision at No.2 singles to put the Patriots back on top 2-1.  In two short seasons, Seidewitz owns a 16-6 career singles mark.
 
The Jaguars then clinched the match with singles wins at No.6, No.5, and No.4 – two of those come-from-behind three-set victories.
 
Karatantcheva accounted for the other FMU point when her opponent retired in the third set at No.1 singles, 6-7 (2-7), 6-3, 2-0 ret.  The win was the 70th combined (singles and doubles) victory for Karatantcheva during her Patriot career.
 
 
Women's Tennis Match Results
02/26/2024 at Florence, SC (Kassab Courts)
Augusta University 4, Francis Marion University 3
Singles competition
1. G. Karatantcheva (FMU_W) def. Madeline Frediani (AUWT24) 6-7 (2-7), 6-3, 2-0, retired
2. Chelsea Seidewitz (FMU_W) def. Andrea Gonzalez (AUWT24) 6-1, 6-2
3. Juliana Martinez (AUWT24) def. Julie Martincova (FMU_W) 6-1, 6-0
4. Priscilla Landi (AUWT24) def. Polina Gontaryk (FMU_W) 0-6, 6-2, 7-5
5. Camilla Taborga (AUWT24) def. Kim Venghaus (FMU_W) 6-7 (6-8), 6-3, 6-1
6. Giovanna Patrocinio (AUWT24) def. Julia B. F. Pinto (FMU_W) 6-4, 7-6 (9-7)
Doubles competition
1. G. Karatantcheva/Kim Venghaus (FMU_W) def. Andrea Gonzalez/Juliana Martinez (AUWT24) 6-4
2. Camilla Taborga/Madeline Frediani (AUWT24) def. Chelsea Seidewitz/Polina Gontaryk (FMU_W) 6-4
3. Julie Martincova/Julia B. F. Pinto (FMU_W) def. Priscilla Landi/Giovanna Patrocinio (AUWT24) 7-5
 
Match Notes:  Augusta University 5-2
Francis Marion University 2-4
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (3,2,6,5,4,1)
T-3:00